RETIRED Trowbridge businessman Pat Ladd has died, aged 87.

The eldest son of Doris and James Ladd who founded the family business of James Ladd & Sons, he was born in Melksham in 1929.

The builders merchants, started in 1934, was based at Hill Street in Trowbridge and the family lived there for some years before moving to North Bradley, by which time the family had grown to include a sister, Peggy, and a brother, Terry.

It was at Hill Street that Pat narrowly missed being killed by a bomb which landed at the bottom of his bed during the Second World War, when a German bomber returning from a raid on Bath dropped the remainder of its load, which damaged several properties in the town centre.

He went straight into the family business on leaving school and, except for his time doing National Service, continued to do so, taking over as managing director on his father’s retirement, until the successful business was eventually sold in the 1980s.

He married Jean Parsons in 1951 and they had two daughters, Lesley and Penny. In 1984 he married Wendy Ballantyne and became stepfather to Nicki and Chris and grandfather to Lily, Oliver and Matthew.

Mr Ladd served on both Trowbridge Town and West Wilts District Councils and was a long-serving member of Trowbridge Round Table, 41 Club, Probus and the Rotary Club. He was a very active man and his many interests over the years included scuba diving, sailing and his great love, flying.

He travelled widely, was a voracious reader and took up watercolour painting later in life. He loved music, particularly jazz, played the piano and was a keen drummer in many local jazz bands.

His funeral will be for family only, and will be held at Haycombe Cemetery in Bath.

There will be a service of thanksgiving for his life at St Katharine’s Church, Holt, the village where he lived for many years, at 12.15pm on January 6, to which all are welcome.